The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is proposing spending $150 million over the next 20 years on infrastructure, trails, historic preservation and other capital projects at Alcatraz, Muir Woods and the new park in San Mateo County called Rancho Corral de Tierra.

The improvement plan is part of the new general management blueprint for the 80,000 acres of beaches, rolling hills, stables and historic military installations that make up the sprawling Bay Area federal parkland.

The plan, which does not include the Presidio, Crissy Field and Fort Baker - all subjects of separate management plans - intends to protect resources, habitat and wildlife while allowing urban access to the park. It would create eight different activity zones - including natural, scenic and diverse usage - to guide behavior, use and infrastructure needs.

The recommendations in the voluminous report will undoubtedly mean some current recreational activities would have to be curtailed, a potentially volatile issue among dog walkers, bicyclists and horseback riders, who have historically been common targets for proposed restrictions.

Brian Aviles, the senior planner for the recreation area, said the idea behind the plan is to create guidelines that enhance the public experience.

"Our management philosophy is connecting people with the parks," said Aviles, senior planner for the GGNRA. "It's about making the parks accessible, being relevant and providing the kind of opportunities that people want in the park."

Muir Woods renovations

Aviles said about $15 million of the $150 million would be spent at Muir Woods, including $8 million or so on the entrance, parking, transportation and infrastructure to accommodate the huge crowds that now inundate the scenic valley and clog the roads on weekends.

A hugely controversial plan to build a parking area on Panoramic Highway for Muir Woods visitors is now "off the table," according to recreation area spokesman Howard Levitt, but the problem still exists and alternatives will be discussed. One possible solution, Aviles said, is a reservation parking system, which is now being studied.

The plan proposes spending about $19 million in 2009 dollars stabilizing and rehabilitating Alcatraz buildings, including the cellblock on the east side of the island, the chapel, hospital wing and administration area.

The most controversial aspect of the plan appears to be the eight zones, which some recreational users fear could be used as an excuse to ban them. The zones would include scenic, historic and interpretive areas along with a "diverse opportunities zone."

Large chunks of land, including trails and beach areas, would be designated Natural Zones, according to the plan. That would mean the natural, wild, dynamic characteristics of the area would be preserved. Some restrictions on use could be implemented, including the fencing off of sensitive areas to preserve the natural setting, according to the plan.

Dog walkers fear limits

Canine fancier groups believe the natural zone designation is an excuse by the GGNRA to ban off-leash dog walking on beaches and trails.

Huey Johnson, the founder of the Resource Renewal Institute in Mill Valley, said recreation in general is in jeopardy. He characterized the management plan as an attempt to shed the "recreation area" moniker and turn the area into a national park.

"The park service is very good at maintaining our wonderful wilderness areas, but they struggle when it comes to providing recreation to urban dwellers, which is what the GGNRA was created to do," said Johnson, who was instrumental in the creation of the GGNRA. He said the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a partner and primary fundraiser, has been pushing an agenda that excludes many urban recreational users, including dog walkers.

Levitt denied there is some kind of scheme to get rid of recreation.

"This plan was developed with an extensive amount of public engagement," Levitt said. "Recreation is in our name, and it is in our legislation. We will continue to have arguably the broadest array of recreational activities to be found in any park in the national park system."